to wonder if this mum calling for Sleeping Beauty to be banned is going a step too far, or not?

[ShatnersWig]

Don't worry, I've not linked to the Daily Fail.

metro.co.uk/2017/11/23/mother-wants-sleeping-beauty-pulled-from-school-because-it-teaches-bad-lesson-about-consent-7101539/

Is this taking things a step too far or has she got a point?

Has this already been linked here?: www.the-pool.com/news-views/opinion/2017/47/Lily-Peschardt-on-what-fairy-tales-are-teaching-our-kids

I would have to see a particular text to say whether or not I think it is inappropriate. The one that inspired this whole debate (image in the above article)? Definitely inappropriate. (I hate all the Biff, Chipper etc series anyway, but that's for aesthetic reasons.)

Look at it like this: I know a hell of a lot of men and women who are really not homophobic, but if that were a man kissing a sleeping (or unconscious) man they would not be happy. In fact they would be fuming. So why is it ok when it's a woman? It's not.

Generally speaking I love fairy tales, however they have to be appropriate, which is why this story was sanitised in the first place.

I would have said she was being totally ott (and I still would never advocate banning any book) but this thread has been eye opening and really made me think. Thanks to the posters who have shared some of the feminist perspective and original origins of the stories; I've learned a lot reading them!

*When will the madness end?

Like the 'critic' who said Harry Potter was actually a mental patient, and Hogwarts was all in his head, and the dementors were the orderlies.

I mean, are these people on drugs or something?* Madness should never end. If it did, where would you get interesting theories from. There would be no need for philosophy or coming up with something that is outside of our cultural norm and though process.

Maybe next time, stop and think, ask why they would think that way and maybe come up with a reason why you think they are wrong. That’s how debates** work. That is how we change and exchange ideas as humans and grow.
Stop stifling human growth and potential to imagine the unimaginable by calling them mad as way for demeaning their courage to express thought provoking theories and ideas.
Jk Rowling did the same. Some should be able to use her as means to expand what she has written in what is meaning to them and others who may not have thought of it in that way before.

But should young boys be taught that it's okay to kiss women who are in a coma? Probably not
But children aren't told fairystories these days as a moral code.

Do kids believe that pigs talk and can build their own homes out of bricks and straw and wood? Has that ever been anyone basis for vegetarianism?

If the only morals her 6 yo son are being taught is through a few books at school then she has bigger worries imo.

The originals are all horrific and would probably be 18's if made into movies these days so maybe in 10 years it will become a banned text and students will study it as part of legal studies to discuss sexual harassment of kissing sleeping women but it seems like we fiat aren't prepared to discuss or debate things these days.

Do kids believe that pigs talk and can build their own homes out of bricks and straw and wood?

No of course not but, as I've already explained, it's the message and the discourse that is important. Not the characters.

Message from The Three Little Pigs? If you invest in time, energy and quality, rather than not, you will better withstand any foe who comes your way. (In a rather inarticulate nutshell.)

And that is good advice whether it's your career, your house, your home, your marriage, your parenting...

I think there are a few fairy tales which have a useful message:

Hansel & Gretl - don't be greedy, and don't take sweets from strangers either.
Little Red Riding Hood - don't go wandering off in the forest by yourself, it's dangerous.
The Boy who cried 'Wolf' - don't tell lies, because one day you will be telling the truth and no-one will believe you.

stunt they all do. That's what they're for. Yes, some of them were about educating French aristocratic children on the correct way to behave according to their sex. But they were all created to teach a lesson.

Thanks to the posters who have shared some of the feminist perspective and original origins of the stories; I've learned a lot reading them!

I think some of those interpretations need to be taken with a pinch of salt.

But children aren't told fairystories these days as a moral code.

Do kids believe that pigs talk and can build their own homes out of bricks and straw and wood? There is a bible version of this in the form a parable which I remember learning. The three men who built their houses, 1on a rock, sand and something else. Anyway it’s something like that. It follows the similar narration on what is stronger when you build a house. But the biblical one was based on faith and which one cannot be shattered or leads to temptations. Building a strong faith was key. Probably what children will take out that story is that building something stronger is better than a weak one. @SaturdayNIghtAtTheMovies Put it better. I also, do t think they are for only children. From my understanding, old fairy tales where for adult entertainment to be read in the evenings. I’m sure this has been said on one of these threads before.

I'm late to the party AND a little off-topic, but I just wanted to tell eddiemairswife at 10:48 that there is in fact a very charming version of Little black Sambo, with new names and illustrations: The story of little Babaji, by Fred Marcellino.
A much-loved book in our house!